Representatives of Russia’s Public Chamber suggest amending the existing law on government tenders with a ban on purchasing foreign-made drinks, including liquor and wine, for official banquets sponsored with state money.

Mikhail Lermontov of the Public Chamber’s commission for
development of the economy’s real sector has said in an interview
with Izvestia daily that the motion will be submitted to the
State Duma in the nearest future.

“Presently the buyers are not restricted by any obligations,
including moral ones and people are still drinking French mineral
water at state-sponsored events. What we need instead is that
authorities make decisions in the interests of the nation, not
the companies that sell the expensive drinks,” the activist
noted.

MP Vadim Solovyov (Communist Party) of the State Duma committee
for Constitutional Law approved of the planned motion and added
that state-sponsored events should be thoroughly regulated and
restricted to a minimum of occasions.

“State sponsored banquets are inadmissible – the civil
servants’ salaries allow them to celebrate the New Year holiday
at their own expense. We can only allow official events with
participation of foreign delegations or celebrations of some
awards, as well as events that require the presence of the
president,” the lawmaker told reporters.

He added that Russian officials could do very well with only
domestic drinks served at banquets – be it Russian vodka or
Crimean wine.

The move is not the first attempt to use the current “war of
sanctions” in domestic politics. A short time earlier Solovyov
suggested that Russian government agencies and official bodies
should stop purchasing cars made in countries that have
introduced sanctions against Russia.

Earlier this year the European Union, United States and several
of their allies have imposed economic sanctions on senior Russian
officials and some larger companies over Russia’s alleged role in
the current crisis in the east and southeast of Ukraine.

In early August, Russia retaliated with a one-year ban on imports
of meat, fish, cheese, milk, vegetables and fruit from Australia,
Canada, the EU, the US and Norway. Earlier this week, the Russian
president’s press secretary Dmitry Peskov stated that further
sanctions were possible if foreign nations continue their
pressure.

A public opinion poll conducted in early
August showed that 92 percent of Russian citizens felt no effect
from trade restrictions. Most Russians also said that they saw
the whole campaign as a means to weaken Russia and its position
in global politics.